The Independent member for Humber-Bay of Islands is calling on the province to take some sort of action to address the potential environmental disaster posed by the wreck of the Baltic III grounded near Lark Harbour.

A salvage company hired by the cargo ship’s owner is working on removing the 1.7 million litres of heavy fuel inside the vessel, but local residents are concerned that time is running out.

Tar balls were discovered on the beach last week and residents and harvesters fear an environmental disaster is imminent.

Area MHA Eddie Joyce questioned the premier on the province’s role in the House of Assembly yesterday.

Joyce says he understands it’s a federal Coast Guard issue, “but delay will potentially cause a major oil spill, and a catastrophe for the outer Bay of Islands. I ask the Premier, will you contact federal officials to have this salvage completed immediately to avoid a potential environmental disaster?”

The Premier acknowledged that the situation “does represent a continued environmental threat, and I assure the member opposite that we have written the Canadian Coast Guard, we’ve written the federal government to ensure that they are taking this with a level of urgency and acuity that is required to protect that crucial fishing ground for people in that district.”